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The names of the pilot and passenger aboard the medical
helicopter that crashed last Thursday on the roof of the 11-story Spectrum Health Butterworth
Hospital, bursting into
flames, were finally released.
Aero-Med Raymond Sampson, 61, was piloting the helicopter
being accompanied by passenger Willard Elliot, 57, who, according to the
Detroit Free-Press, was a Federal Aviation Administration inspector from Grand Rapids.
Both of them suffered injuries, but they managed to escape
before the helicopter burst on fire. Elliot was treated for minor injuries and
released from Butterworth the same day, while Sampson suffered a collapsed lung
and was hospitalized until Saturday when he was sent home.
He flew in the Vietnam War and he has been a pilot for the
hospital’s Aero Med rescue service for 21 years.
Officials from both the FAA and the National Safety Board declined to
speculate on the crash’s cause, but most probably, a mechanical failure appeared
to have led to the incident.
After
the crash, the hospital’s power went out, forcing doctors to cancel all
scheduled surgeries. Also, patients were relocated from the top floors of the
hospital to other floors, while the emergency room was closed, forcing those in
need of emergency help to head to other area hospitals.
According to Fire Chief John VanSolkema, it was too soon to
estimate the damages resulting from the crash.
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